Product Photographer

Shoot product photos that sell for shops and brands.

Start with Beginner Photography MISTAKES - What to avoid to take better photos (8 min, Peter McKinnon), then CAMERA BASICS 2 (13 min, Peter McKinnon). All 35 lessons in Product Photographer are free. No degree. A phone or used camera, and a light box. A starter kit costs about $965. Etsy and Amazon sellers pay per image; local shops by the day.

To start: No degree. A phone or used camera, and a light box. Earning: Etsy and Amazon sellers pay per image; local shops by the day.

  1. Camera basics

    Exposure, focus, composition.

  2. Product photography

    Light, backgrounds and styling.

  3. Editing

    Lightroom and Photoshop.

  4. Portraits and headshots

    The second income stream.

  5. Find your first clients

    A small portfolio, a profile that gets replies, and proposals that win work.

  6. Get paid and keep the books

    Invoices, contracts, taxes for the self-employed and simple bookkeeping.

  7. Build your own site

    A one-page site and a profile that bring work to you.